Public EV Charging Costs in the UK

Public charging in the UK is priced in pence per kWh, and the price must be shown before you start. Your cost per mile is that price divided by your car's miles per kWh, so at 65p a kWh an EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh costs about 18.6p a mile. That is several times the cost of charging at home, and can be more than petrol.

Key takeaways

  • Public charge points must show the price in pence per kWh before you charge, and the price cannot rise once charging has started.
  • Cost per mile = price per kWh ÷ your car's miles per kWh.
  • Rapid chargers usually cost more per kWh than slower chargers, and public charging carries 20% VAT.
  • Charging at home on an off-peak tariff is usually far cheaper.
In this guide

How public charging is priced

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 set rules that make public charging easier to compare:

  • Price in pence per kWh. Every public charge point must clearly show the total price in pence per kWh, on the charger or on a device you can use without a contract, and the price cannot go up once charging has started.
  • Contactless payment. Larger operators must let you pay by contactless, without an app or membership, on new public charge points of 8 kW or more and on existing rapid charge points (50 kW and above).
  • Reliability and help. Larger operators' rapid charging networks must work at least 99% of the time on average over a year, and every public charge point they run must display a free helpline staffed 24 hours a day.

Because prices are shown per kWh, you can work out the cost of any charge before you start.

Why public charging costs vary

  • Charger speed: rapid and ultra-rapid chargers usually cost more per kWh than slower chargers.
  • Location: motorway services and busy sites often cost more.
  • Provider: each network sets its own prices, and some charge members a different price.
  • Time of use: some providers vary prices by time of day.

Working out the cost per mile

Divide the price per kWh by your car's efficiency in miles per kWh. At illustrative prices:

  • 50p a kWh: about 14.3p a mile at 3.5 miles per kWh, or 12.5p at 4 miles per kWh
  • 65p a kWh: about 18.6p a mile at 3.5 miles per kWh, or 16.3p at 4 miles per kWh
  • 80p a kWh: about 22.9p a mile at 3.5 miles per kWh, or 20.0p at 4 miles per kWh

For comparison, charging at home at an off-peak 7.5p a kWh costs about 2.1p a mile at 3.5 miles per kWh. A petrol car doing 40 mpg at 140p a litre costs about 15.9p a mile in fuel.

Efficiency falls in cold weather and at motorway speeds, so your real cost per mile may be higher than these figures.

VAT on public charging

HMRC treats charging at public charge points as standard-rated for VAT at 20%. Electricity supplied to your home normally carries the reduced rate of 5%. With effect from 1 October 2026 until 31 March 2027, qualifying domestic electricity in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is temporarily zero-rated, so it carries 0% VAT. In Northern Ireland, domestic electricity stays at 5%.

A First-tier Tribunal has found in favour of one charging company on this point, but HMRC has applied for permission to appeal and its position remains that public charging is standard-rated.

How to reduce your charging costs

  • Charge at home on an off-peak tariff where you can.
  • Use slower public chargers when you have time; they are often cheaper per kWh.
  • Avoid motorway rapid chargers when another option is nearby.
  • Compare networks, and check whether a subscription would lower your price if you charge often.
  • Check the price per kWh on the charger before you start.

To estimate your monthly bill from your mileage and the share you charge at home, use the EV Charging Cost Calculator.

FAQs

How much does it cost to charge an EV at a public charger?
Multiply the kWh you add by the price per kWh shown on the charger. Adding 40 kWh at 65p a kWh costs £26.00; at 80p it costs £32.00.
Do I need an app to use a public charger?
Not on most newer or rapid chargers. Larger operators must let you pay by contactless on new public charge points of 8 kW or more and on existing rapid charge points, without signing up first.
Why is public charging more expensive than charging at home?
Each operator sets its own price, which has to cover the charger and the site as well as the electricity, and public charging is standard-rated for VAT at 20%. Home electricity normally carries 5% VAT; from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 it is temporarily 0% in Great Britain, while Northern Ireland stays at 5%.
Is public charging cheaper than petrol?
Not always. At 65p a kWh, an EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh costs about 18.6p a mile, more than a petrol car doing 40 mpg at 140p a litre (about 15.9p a mile).

The prices in this guide are illustrative, not current market prices. Always check the price shown on the charger or in the operator's app. This guide is general guidance.

Sources and review

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